New Hampshire State Tartan

New Hampshire Tartan

Adopted in 1995.

In 1995, New Hampshire adopted an official state tartan.

The colors are listed with the number of threads used to create the tartan. The sett for the New Hampshire Tartan is as follows:

green 56, black 2, green 2, black 12, white 2, black 12,
purple 2, black 2, purple 8, red 6, purple 28

The colors in the sett all have significance to the state. The purple represents the State's bird and flower, the purple finch and purple lilac; green represents the green of the forests; black represents our granite mountains; white represents the snow; and red represents all the state heroes. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 3:21

New Hampshire State Tartan:
New Hampshire Tartan

History of the New Hampshire Tartan

In 1993, the idea of creating a New Hampshire Tartan for the 20th Anniversary of the New Hampshire Highland games in 1995, was initiated. Designed by handweaver, Ralf Hartwell of Newton, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Tartan is unique in its color tones, in that special dye lots must be prepared for the coloring process.

With the review and verification of the design as original and authentic by the Tartan Educational and Cultural Association and the International Association of Tartan Studies, New Hampshire State Representative Stephen Avery arranged for Governor Stephen Merrill to proclaim the Tartan as the State Tartan of New Hampshire in June of 1994. In January of 1995, Avery introduced a bill to the New Hampshire Legislature for permanent recognition, which was passed in May, 1995.

As the New Hampshire Tartan is registered as a Restricted Tartan, SASNH  has the sole proprietary rights to manage the sale of all such tartan woven in Scotland to ensure that a portion of all sales of tartan material and goods are placed in the Society's Scholarship Fund. New Hampshire Tartan wearables are only available through SASNH or a few limited shops licensed by SASNH to carry such stock.

Sett

The sett for the tartan is: green 56; black 2; green 2; black 12; white 2; black 12; purple 2; black 2; purple 8; red 6; and purple 28.

The colors represent the following:

• Purple represents the purple finch and the purple lilac, the state bird and the state flower;
• Green represents the green of the forests;
• Black represents the granite mountains
• White represents the snow; and
• Red represents all state heroes.

New Hampshire Law

The law designating the official New Hampshire state tartan is found in the New Hampshire Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 3, Section 3:21.

TITLE I THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 3 STATE EMBLEMS, FLAG, ETC.
Section 3:21

3:21 State Tartan. -

I. There shall be an official state tartan of New Hampshire. The sett for the New Hampshire tartan shall be as follows: green 56; black 2; green 2; black 12; white 2; black 12; purple 2; black 2; purple 8; red 6; and purple 28.

II. The colors listed in paragraph I represent the following: purple represents the purple finch and the purple lilac, the state bird and the state flower; green represents the green of the forests; black represents the granite mountains; white represents the snow; and red represents all state heroes.

Source. 1995, 72:3, eff. July 8, 1995.